Just Us, Through the Years

I WAS going to call this post 'Then and Now' but I haven't been able to get a NOW photo that I like.  So you'll just have to check back regularly to see when the next one pops up on future posts!

I have spent quite a bit of time scrolling through the past in pictures this last few months.  I had an idea for Christmas gifts for the grandkids, but that kind of fell by the way as very time-consuming.  Not ruling it out, but perhaps a one-at-a-time thing for birthdays, maybe?

And then, of course, I did the 2012 'Year in Review' post.

But for this idea, I wanted to go WAY BACK!  The idea was to show both Viking Star and Us, then and now.  Viking Star has gone through a lot of changes too, but those changes often involve a LOT of mess, and that just doesn't photograph well, in my opinion.  (I MAY get used to the idea and do this anyway in a later post.)

But for now, let's focus on Just Us.

You may notice the definite Water / Boat / Travel theme for the whole of our life together!  I'll remind you of 'The First Date That Wasn't a Date' where we met for coffee and ended up talking for three hours about our hopes for the future -- and Al shared his dream of living on a boat, and I shared mine to travel, and mentioned the San Juan Islands specifically.

Here's our journey, so far ...

This is a test!  Just over a year from the time we met, this is May 2000, and our first trip to the San Juan Islands, chartering a sailboat with friends we have newly met.  Though we have dated for almost a year at this point, this is our first trip 'away together'..  Will I get seasick?  Can I tolerate sharing a small place with Al?  How long can I go without a shower?  (It was 4 days.)

A month later, Al proudly took possession of Viking Star.  He says, since he had the boat BEFORE we committed to marriage, I knew what I was getting into.  But I maintain that I had no idea the depth of the obsession!

I THINK this is my 39th birthday, obviously aboard the Portland Spirit, a dinner cruise ship.

Our Wedding Day, 5-5-2002, Cinco de Mayo.  I don't think we have ever gone to a Mexican restaurant for our anniversary.  Good thing we like Italian, like Olive Garden, where we went for dinner that night, all dressed up, and someone sent us champagne!

Aboard the Maid of the Mist at Niagra Falls, on our honeymoon!

In 2004, a dream trip -- a MONTH in Europe!  A week in the Netherlands,  two in northern Italy,  a few sites in Belgium and Germany, a drive across Switerland, and a drive across France to finish with 3 days in Paris!

2005, another dream fulfilled  -- Hawaii!  We are celebrating Christine's 16th birthday  -- you can see her shadow too as she takes this.

2008, New Year's Eve.  Fisherman's Wharf, San Francisco -- one of our favorite cities!

May 5, 2009 -- Nope!  No seven-year- itch for us!!!

A unique portrait -- the Fourth of July, 2010 at Portland's Waterfront Blues Fest  -- a charcoal drawing of us listening to the music from the back deck of Viking Star.

A somber portrait -- we visit Washington DC in March  2011.  Al has business, but we stay a few days more to be tourists.  It's a GREAT city to visit!  And like  most people, we were very moved by the Vietnam War Memorial.

July 2011.  Beginning our first whole day in the Strait of Juan de Fuca, entering the Puget Sound,  where we have been ever since.  (Or at least Viking Star has.  We've had several visits back to Portland, ourselves.)